Multi-leaf tag



R. W. OWEN MULTI-LEAF TAG Sept. 13, 1966 Filed Dec. l. 1964 @Wwf/@3744 United States Patent O M 3,272,532 MULTI-LEAF TAG Robert W. Owen, Evergreen Park, lill., assigner to Midwest Chemical Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Dec. 1, 1964, Ser. No. 415,102 1 Claim. (Cl. 282-22) This invention relates to a multi-leaf tag. In its more specific aspect, this invention relates to a shipping tag, or the like, having a plurality of leafs for recording information regarding 'a purchase, order, shipment, etc., wherein the lowermost leaf accompanies the nal item.

It is conventional practice to employ in business a multileaf tag for a purchase, order, shipment, requisition, etc. The leafs, sheets or pages of the tag are superimposed, and they may be of identical or varying size. Generally, the leafs or sheets Vof the tag provide for Isuch information as identiiication of the parties to the `order such as the specific identity of the department or division fulfilling the order yand the customers destination for the order, the specifications required by the order and shipping data. Carbon paper, or other suitable copying paper, is interleaved with the sheets of the tag so that information recorded on a tag sheet is transferred to underlying sheets laid against it, The leafs or sheets of the tag may not contain identical information, and, where this is true, the size of the carbon paper may vary with respect to the adjacent sheet of the tag. The sheets of the tag are separately detachable so as to provide any necessary receipts. Thus, in fulfilling an order, it is handled by more than one department, and each department may detach and retain a sheet of the tag. One sheet of the tag, usually the bottom or lowermost sheet which may be a heavier ply or cardboard, accompanies the order or shipment for the purpose of providing an address of the customer and to provide a receipt for the customer.

After the order leaves the consignor, .and while in shipment, the tag attached to the order is exposed, and because of inclement weather, it may become defaced and illegible. As a consequence, the order may not reach its destination, or the customer may not receive the complete details normally provided on the tag.

This invention has, therefore, as it purpose to provide a multi-leaf tag of the type described overcoming the foregoing disadvantages and which may be attached securely to the order or to the overwrap structure containing the order.

These, together with other objects and -advantages of the invention, will best be understood by referring to the following detailed speciiication, read in conjunction with the `following drawing in which:

FIGURE l is a plan view of a multi-leaf tag embodying my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective View of the tag of FIGURE l, wherein portions of the sheets have been turned back to show otherwise hidden structural features;

FIGURE 3 is 'a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 showing in greater detail the structural features of the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a rear plan view of a modied form of the multi-leaf tag falling within the scope of the invention; and

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view further illustrating the structural features of the invention.

In the drawing, the thickness of the paper leafs or sheets is exaggerated to illustrate more clearly the structural features of the invention.

In general, my invention comprises a tag having a plurality of superimposed leafs, sheets or pages suitable for recording information attendant an order, requisition, purchase, shipment, or the like. Copying paper, such as 3,272,532 Patented Sept. 13, 1966 carbon paper, is interleaved with the superimposed sheets so that the information recorded can be transferred to underlying sheets. The tag is further provided with a transparent plastic sheet interleaved with the sheets above the sheet accompanying the order. This is generally the lowermost sheet of the tag, and the invention will be described in greater detail in this respect, but it should be understood that the tag may be arranged so that a sheet other than the lowermost sheet `may accompany the order. In the structure of the completed tag, the plastic sheet overlays the carbon paper adjacent the lowermost sheet, and the bottom surface or face of the plastic sheet is provided with a sealing coating which is covered with a backing member. When the order is completed and ready for shipping, and the other sheets and carbon paper have been detached, the backing of the plastic sheet is removed, and the plastic sheet is sealed to the face of the lowermost sheet. The information recorded on the lowermost sheet of the tag is clearly visible because the plastic sheet is transparent, yand the tag is now protected against damage from water and from defacing or marring.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, there is shown a multi-leaf tag indicated generally at 10. The particular tag illustrated includes three leafs or sheets which are superimposed, but another number of sheets may be used. This includes la front or top paper sheet 12, an intermediate paper sheet 14 and lowermost sheet 16 formed of cardboard. Carbon papers 18 and 20 of appropriate length are interleaved with said sheets. In the illustration, the lower portion of sheet 14 has a format different from that of sheets 12 and 16 for recording different information, and for that reason, carbon paper 18 is shortened so that only the information in common with sheets 12 and 16 its transferred to sheet 14.

Sheets 12 and 14 and carbon papers 18 and 20 `are bound along their corresponding top margins or edge portions at 22 at or near the corresponding top margin or edge portion of lowermost sheet 16. The sheets and carbon papers may be bound by adhesive or other suitable means. Each sheet and carbon paper is separately detachable, and the sheets and papers are scored at 24 to facilitate detaching the sheet or paper. Where desired, the lowermost sheet is provided with at least one hole 26 having a gummed cloth reinforcing ring 28 to accommodate a band or string for securing the sheet to the order.

A transparent plastic sheet 30 is interleaved with the other sheets of the tag 10 above the lowermost sheet 16 and overlying carbon paper 20 adjacent said sheet 16. As shown in the drawing, there is an attachment of an edge portion or margin of transparent plastic sheet 30 to lowermost sheet 16, along the same margin or edge portion of .sheet 16 as is bound with the other sheets 12, 14 and the carbon papers 18, 20. This attachment maintains transparent plastic sheet 3l) below upper sheets 12, 14 and above lower sheet 16 and also prevents plastic sheet 3() from being moved to a non-overlying or non-superimposed position, relative to lower sheet 16, when the upper sheets 12, 14 overlie sheet 16. Suitable plastic materials for sheet 30 include, for example, polyvinyl chloride, vinyl chloride-acetate copolymers, polyethylene, polystyrene and the like. The bottom surface or face of plastic sheet 30 is provided with a sealing coating 32 (see FIGURE 3), which is desirably a pressure-sensitive `adhesive coating, but may be a heat-sensitive adhesive coating. The pressure-sensitive adhesive coating may be a rubber base adhesive or a vinyl ethyl ether polymer of medium high molecular weight with a slight tack. Plastics for sheet 30 can be formed into sheets which are sufficiently clear and transparent so that the information on the lowermost sheet 1'6 is legible, and also can retain a sealing coating for adhering the plastic sheet to the paper sheet. Plastic sheet '30 is provided with a backing member 34 to protect the sealing coating until ready for use. Backing 34 `is formed of a suitable material, such as glassine, Holland cloth, or paper treated with a repellant material such as a coating of silicone so as to resist the adhesive coating. In this manner, backing member 34 may be readily peeled and removed free from the plastic sheet 30 leaving substantially all of the sealing coating on the back face of plastic sheet 30. In order to facilitate removal, backing 34 may be provided with one or more scored lines or with a pull tab.

As described above, the information for the order is recorded on the top sheet 12, and the information `is transferred to the lower sheets 14 and 16. In order to provide the proper record for the vendor or conveyor, sheets 12 and 14 are subsequently removed along the scored line 24, as are carbon papers 18 and 20. Just prior to shipping of the order, backing 34 is then removed (see FIGURE 5), and plastic sheet 30 is pressure sealed to cover `lowermost sheet 16. The lowermost sheet 16 is then secured to the order, or a carton containing the order, and sheet 16 is protected against defacing.

The modification illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5 provides means for readily -secured the tag to the order. The back surface of lowermost sheet 16 is provided with a sealing coating 36, similar to that provided on the lower face of plastic sheet 30. Backing 38, which may be scored along line 40 to facilitate removal, covers the back of sheet 16 and protects sealing coating 36 until ready for use. Backing member 38 is formed of a suitable material such as described above so that upon removal, substantially all of the sealing coating is retained by sheet 1-6.

When the order is completed and ready for shipment, and the tag has been prepared as described above, backing 38 is removed. The shipping tag, now comprising sheet 16 having its protective plastic covering 30, is sealed by pressure to the order. By reason of this structure, the shipping tag is readily secured to the order, and

fmore likely assured against loss or separation from the order. In this manner, the shipping tag is adequately protected and secured to the order.

I claim:

A multi-leaf tag comprising:

an upper leaf superimposed relative to the lower leaf;

each of said leaves comprising means upon which information may be recorded;

means attaching a marginal portion of said upper leaf to a -corresponding marginal portion of said lower leaf;

a transparent sheet located between the upper leaf and the lower leaf and superimposed relative to the lower leaf;

said transparent sheet comprising means for covering the lower leaf;

said transparent sheet having a sealing coating on the sheet surface adjacent the lower leaf;

detachable backing means covering said sealing coating on the transparent sheet;

means, located between said detachable backing means and said lower leaf and attached to a marginal portion of the lower leaf, for transferring, to the lower leaf, information recorded on the upper leaf, during the recording operation;

and means, attaching a portion of the transparent sheet to a portion of the lower leaf, for maintaining the transparent sheet between the upper and lower leaves and for preventing said transparent sheet from being moved to a non-superimposed position, relative to `the lower leaf, when the upper leaf is in .a superimposed position relative tothe lower leaf;

whereby said transparent sheet can be sealed to the lower of said leaves, only, upon removal of said detachable backing means, to protect said lower leaf.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,506,015 5/1950 Doepke 282-24 2,979,840 4/1961 Eastman 40-2 3,077,683 2/1963 Jones 40-2 3,148,468 9/1964 Vander Weel et al 40-2 3,153,868 10/1964 Jones 40--2 LAWRENCE CHARLES, Primary Examiner. 

